If Austin, TX is on your list of family fun vacation ideas, this post is for you! Checking out the fantastic murals placed around town is one of the most fun things to do in Austin, TX with family. Austin murals make for great family outing ideas and Father Day photoshoot ideas. Wall murals in Austin, TX are quickly becoming unique tourist destinations.
Last weekend we explored some of the fabulous Austin Texas murals. We’ve been living the quarantine life for several months now, so this was our first ‘big’ outing as a family in a while. It was a nice change of pace, and we even managed to squeeze in a mini Father’s Day photo session.
We ventured out on a Sunday afternoon, so many of the businesses around were closed, making many of these Austin murals easily accessible. This was a huge win for us because even though we’re vaccinated, we’re not really comfortable with venturing out to crowded areas just yet. We were sad to see that some of the businesses near these Austin Texas murals were permanently closed for business due to COVID, but we made the best of it regardless.
I thought I’d share some of the locations of these murals for those looking for things to do in Austin, TX with kids. Edit: I also thought it would be helpful to add in a few of the murals that we’ve visited pre-COVID for those who don’t mind the crowds.
Smile Wall
The smile wall is located in a parking lot right near the UT Austin campus. If you decide to check out this mural, be aware that cars may be an issue. There are actually two additional murals next to the smile mural that you don’t see pictured. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a good shot in front of the wasabi and rainbow walls because cars were blocking both of them. Either way, it was a cute father-son photo spot and an excellent opportunity for these two to show off their matching #dadlife #kidlife t-shirts!
Location: 2438 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
I โค๏ธ Queso Austin Mural
The I Love Queso mural at Kerbey Lane’s UT Austin location is 100% accurate. Especially when you’re talking about their world-famous queso! Local street artist Mike Johnston commissioned this colorful masterpiece. If you’re looking for family outing ideas, you’ll want to give them a shot while you’re in town. You’ll find that they definitely have some of the tastiest eats in town. Weekends are usually pretty busy at all eight of their Austin locations. So if you hate waiting, check them out on a weekday or join the waitlist online before you venture out.
Location: 2606 Guadalupe Austin, TX 78705
Keep It 100! Wall
This one may be a little trickier to get to because it’s located at P. Terry’s Burger Stand, a drive-thru only location. However, it’s still on my list of fun things to do in Austin, TX. For this mural, we managed to snag what I think may have been an employee-only parking spot for a few minutes. We took a quick pic for our Howdy Baby Subscription Box launch and were out of there in no time. Alternatively, you could have someone order lunch at the drive-thru while you snap a few pics of the kiddos, keeping it 100!
Location: 8515 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
Sweet! You’re Here Austin Mural
This mural is located next to Kellie’s Baking Co, and it’s probably one of my favorite Austin murals. I took a few promo shots for our Howdy Baby Subscription Box launch at this location. I loved it because the colors really popped. I’d recommend adding this spot to your list of ideas for family photoshoots.
Location: 5245 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
Groovy 70’s Wall
This was another Howdy Baby Subscription Box promo photo spot. It’s a fun, bright wall located just outside of Uptown Modern. It is a parking lot location, so you may want to check it out during a non-busy time. Exploring this area in general may be something you may want to add to your list of ideas for family outings.
Location: 5111 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
Blue Tile Wall
This cute light blue tile wall is located outside of Barley and Swine. It’s a west-facing wall, so visiting this one in the morning is best; otherwise, don’t forget to pack a pair of sunglasses because the fam will look squinty-eyed in the photos.
Location: 6555 Burnet Rd #200, Austin, TX 78757
Greetings From The Heart of Texas
My fiancรฉ and I were looking for fun things to do in Austin, TX when my in-laws first announced they would be coming from Ohio to visit us. Turns out, exploring street art and unique installations around South Congress was one of their favorite family outing ideas. I just love the way this photo of them turned out.
Location: 1500 South Congress Austin, TX 78704
I Love You So Much Austin Mural
This Austin mural has a fun backstory. It was actually created in 2010 by a local musician as a public love letter to her partner. The South Congress mural was later vandalized and then recreated. The I Love You So Much Mural is easily one of the most famous Austin murals. This red graffiti wall still gets its fair share of foot traffic. I’d add this location to your list of family fun vacation ideas, especially as we approach the light at the end of the COVID tunnel. If you’re looking for less crowded family outing ideas or if you’re not a fan of crowds in general, you may want to skip on this destination.
Location: 1300 S. Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Final Thoughts On Austin Murals
The great thing about Austin is that the street art scene is constantly changing with the times. As a result, there are always new murals popping up around town. These pop-up art installations are one of the things that make Austin, TX, genuinely unique.
Take this colorful streamer art installation by the Color Condition, for example. This art installation takes on a life of its own! I discovered it when my sisters came down from Dallas to celebrate my 30th birthday in Austin. We stumbled upon it while looking for family photoshoot ideas around South Congress with my son, and we all instantly fell in love with it. These Instagram-worthy murals make good ideas for family photoshoots, especially if you’re looking for things to do in Austin, TX with kids. Best of all, this fun family outing won’t cost you anything. Amazingly random finds like these only happen in Austin, TX, the city that keeps it weird.
I hope this post gave you some ideas of things to do in Austin Texas with family. Let me know if you’ve checked out any of the Austin wall murals mentioned above. I’ll keep this post updated with any new finds we come across. Feel free to share your experiences and family fun vacation ideas in the comments below.
